Ball State University
4-6 , 3-3
Central Michigan
7-4 , 5-2
Cardinals Can’t Close out Chippewas in Key MAC West Matchup
November 16, 2019 | Football
Central Michigan overcomes 17-point deficit for 45-44 win at Scheumann Stadium
A stop or a late score in the past two weeks would have the Cardinals in a much different position. But the final minutes of Saturday's game against Central Michigan unfolded in remarkably similar fashion as last week at Western Michigan.
The Broncos took the lead with 1:05 left and stifled the Cardinals on their final possession in Kalamazoo. The Chippewas scored with 1:01 left Saturday and intercepted Drew Plitt on fourth down of BSU's last gasp at Scheumann Stadium.
CMU overcame a 17-point deficit, 41-24, late in the third quarter for a 45-44 win to keep its own division title hopes alive. There was no last-minute magic for the Cardinals this time like there was last year when the teams met in Mount Pleasant.
With the win, Central Michigan (7-4, 5-2 MAC) keeps pace with Western Michigan at the top of the MAC West Division standings. Ball State (4-6, 3-3) has dropped three straight league games.
"To have a lead the way that we did and finish the second half the way that we did is disappointing," Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. "We didn't play well enough to win in the second half. We did a lot of good things in the first half, but as we all know, you have to be able to finish the game, and we didn't do that."
Ball State scored on six consecutive possessions in the middle of the game, and the Cardinals forced three second quarter turnovers and cashed them all in for points.
Jacob White's interception led to a touchdown for right tackle Danny Pinter on a trick play. Then White's forced fumble led to a Caleb Huntley score. Justin Hall closed the first half with a touchdown and opened the second half with another one. Everything seemed to be clicking.
The BIG FELLA trucks into the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN!@BallStateFB leads 10-3 pic.twitter.com/FJsM3Yv2zl
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 16, 2019
The Cardinals led by 17 on three occasions, the last of which came when Plitt found Riley Miller for a touchdown with 2:31 to go in the third. But that was the last of Ball State's five touchdowns on the day.
Central Michigan, on the other hand, was starting to gain momentum. The Chippewas scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter and added another shortly after Miller's touchdown. All three scores came on runs from Jonathan Ward who scored four times on the day.
CMU scored touchdowns on six of its last seven real possessions. Tommy Lazzarro's quarterback run early in the fourth quarter pulled the Chippewas within three at 41-38. Ryan Rimmler briefly stemmed the tide with a field goal after the BSU defense's only stop of the second half.
But Central Michigan went 10 plays in 4:03 and found the end zone on Lazzaro's second touchdown run with 1:01 left for the decisive score.
The teams combined for nearly 1,000 yards in the game. The Cardinals rushed for 231, putting two rushers over 100 – Walter Fletcher (115) and Huntley (106). Plitt threw for 268 yards and three scores.
Ball State has two regular season games left and still a chance to become bowl eligible and even share the division title with some help. The Cardinals will visit Kent State next Saturday at noon and host Miami on Friday, Nov. 29.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Team Stats
CMU 3, BALL 0
CMU - TICE, Ryan 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 47 yards, TOP 4:32
CMU 3, BALL 3
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 50 yards, TOP 3:26
CMU 3, BALL 10
BALL - PINTER, Danny 5 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 6 plays, 32 yards, TOP 2:26
CMU 3, BALL 17
BALL - HUNTLEY, Caleb 2 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 5 plays, 26 yards, TOP 2:07
CMU 3, BALL 20
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 25 yd field goal 8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 4:00
CMU 11, BALL 20
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 1 yd run (PIMPLETON, K. pass), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:51
CMU 11, BALL 27
BALL - HALL, Justin 11 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 4 plays, 63 yards, TOP 0:43
CMU 17, BALL 27
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 6 yd run (WARD, Jonathan rushfailed), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:34
CMU 17, BALL 34
BALL - HALL, Justin 64 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:33
CMU 24, BALL 34
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 9 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 7 plays, 35 yards, TOP 2:15
CMU 24, BALL 41
BALL - MILLER, Riley 14 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:45
CMU 31, BALL 41
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 1 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 1:22
CMU 38, BALL 41
CMU - LAZZARO, Tommy 5 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 5 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:38
CMU 38, BALL 44
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 33 yd field goal 8 plays, 34 yards, TOP 3:28
CMU 45, BALL 44
CMU - LAZZARO, Tommy 2 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:03
